Vehicle accessories

ABSTRACT

A bumper assembly is provided for a vehicle having a frame. The bumper assembly includes a winch cradle defining a cradle mounting aperture corresponding to a first frame aperture of the frame. A bumper member is configured to at least partially surround the winch cradle and extend laterally from the winch cradle across a portion of the vehicle. The bumper member defines a bumper mounting aperture corresponding to a second frame aperture. The winch cradle is configured to couple to the vehicle frame independent of the bumper member and the bumper member is configured to couple to the vehicle frame independent of the winch cradle.

The present invention relates to vehicles and vehicle accessories. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an adaptive bumper system for theselective installation of a winch on vehicles, to a rear step assemblyfor attachment to a vehicle bumper and to an accessory-compatible fenderassembly for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Certain types of vehicles, such as trucks, SUVs, and UTVs, are oftenused with a winch. The winch may be mounted to the front bumper or to aframe member adjacent the front bumper.

Certain types of vehicles, such as trucks and SUVs have relatively highground clearance. When combined with an elevated bed or roof-rack, theheight of the truck or SUV can make access to cargo in the bed orroof-rack difficult to access.

The attachment of spot lights, aftermarket mirrors and other accessoriestrucks and SUVs is a popular hobby and way to increase the utility ofsuch vehicles in specific environments.

SUMMARY

According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, abumper assembly is provided for a vehicle having a frame. The bumperassembly includes a winch cradle defining a cradle mounting aperturecorresponding to a first frame aperture of the frame. A bumper member isconfigured to at least partially surround the winch cradle and extendlaterally from the winch cradle across a portion of the vehicle. Thebumper member defines a bumper mounting aperture corresponding to asecond frame aperture. The winch cradle is configured to couple to thevehicle frame independent of the bumper member and the bumper member isconfigured to couple to the vehicle frame independent of the winchcradle.

According to another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure,a vehicle step assembly for use with a rear bumper of a vehicle,comprises a base portion configured to be fixedly coupled to the rearbumper. The base portion defines mounting apertures for fastening thebase portion to the rear bumper assembly and a tubular body. A stepextension member is slidably received within the tubular body. The stepextension member has a distal end and defines a plurality of heightadjustment apertures corresponding to a plurality of discrete positionsof the step extension member relative to the base portion. A stepplatform is fixedly coupled to the distal end. A bolt assembly iscoupled to the base portion and selectively extends through a heightadjustment aperture to selectively fixedly couple the step extensionmember to the base portion in each of the plurality of discretepositions.

According to yet another illustrative embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a multifunction upper fender assembly is configured toreplace an original equipment upper fender on a vehicle. Themulti-function upper fender assembly comprises an upper fender bodyconfigured to be coupled adjacent a hood and windshield of the vehicle.A back surface of the upper fender body defines at least one mountingaperture for coupling the upper fender body to the vehicle. A mountingsurface is coupled to the upper fender body. The mounting surfacedefines a mounting point for at least one vehicle accessory. Adetachable cover member is disposed between the mounting surface and theupper fender body.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the followingdetailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying thebest mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features of this invention, and the mannerof attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itselfwill be better understood by reference to the following description ofembodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a front left perspective view of a truck coupled to a bumperassembly of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front left perspective view of the truck of FIG. 1, with aportion of the bumper assembly removed;

FIG. 3 is an upper front left exploded view of the truck and bumperassembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a lower exploded perspective view of the truck of FIG. 1,showing mounting positions of a winch cradle and front facia;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bumper assembly of FIG. 10, with thewinch cradle in a position of installation and the front facia removed;

FIG. 6 is an upper front left exploded view of the truck of FIG. 2 withan alternative front facia;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the truck with the front facia of FIG. 5 in aninstalled position.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of a portion of a truck and a bumperstep assembly according to the present disclosure, with the bumper stepin an extended position.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the truck and bumper step assemblyof FIG. 8, with the bumper step in a retracted position.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the truck and bumper step assembly of FIG.8, with the bumper step in the extended position.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the truck and bumper step assembly of FIG.8, with the bumper step in the retracted position.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of portions of the bumper step assembly ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a portion of an SUV coupled to an upperfender according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the SUV and upper fender of FIG. 12,with a cover of the upper fender removed.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the SUV and upper fender of FIG. 12,with accessory ports installed.

FIG. 16 is an exploded view of a portion of the SUV and the upper fenderof FIG. 12.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. Although the drawings representembodiments of various features and components according to the presentdisclosure, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certainfeatures may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explainthe present disclosure. The exemplifications set out herein illustrateembodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to beconstrued as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, which are described below. The embodiments disclosed beloware not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, theembodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the artmay utilize their teachings. For example, while the followingdescription refers primarily to a truck bumper, it should be understoodthat the principles of the invention apply equally to other on and offroad vehicles. While the present invention primarily involves a truckbumper, it should be understood, however, that the invention may haveapplication to other types of vehicles, such as SUVs, ATVs, utilityvehicles, golf carts, etc.

Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle 10, more specifically, a pickup truck 10is shown. A bumper assembly 16 is coupled to a front portion 20 of thetruck 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the bumper assembly 16 includesa bumper member 24, a bumper facia 28, and a winch cradle 30 disposedbehind the bumper facia 28.

Referring to FIG. 2, with the bumper facia 28 and winch cradle 30removed, the bumper member 24 defines a three-sided opening 32.Referring to FIG. 3, the bumper member 24 is coupled to existingmounting holes 36 defined by a frame 40 of the truck 10. D-rings 44 aresimilarly mounted to mounting locations on the frame 40. Referring backto FIG. 2, the D-rings 44 extend through cutouts 48 in the bumper member24 so that the D-rings 44 remain accessible.

Referring to FIG. 4, the winch cradle 30 mounts to existing holes 52 inthe frame 40 and existing holes 56 in the D-rings 44. The winch cradle30 is not directly mounted to the bumper member 24, thus allowing itsremoval or installation without removal of the bumper member 24.Referring to FIG. 5, the cradle 30 provides a variety of pointing points58 for attaching an optional winch or other vehicle accessory (notshown). The front facia 28 is coupled to the bumper member 24 viacorresponding apertures 60, 64 defined in the front facia 28 and bumpermember 24, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 6, an alternative front facia 68 is provided for usewithout the winch cradle of FIG. 5. The front facia 68 mounts similarlyto the front facia 28 to the bumper member 24. Referring to FIG. 7, thealternative front facia 68 provides a different appearance from thefront facia 28 of FIG. 1 and similarly covers the three-sided opening28.

Referring to FIG. 8, another aspect of the present disclosure is shown.More specifically, a rear bumper assembly 72 coupled to a rear portion76 of the truck 10. A bumper step assembly 80 is coupled to the rearbumper assembly 72. The bumper step assembly 80 includes a base portion84 that is fixedly coupled rear bumper assembly 72. Referring to FIG. 8,a step extension 88 is extendably and, referring to FIG. 9, retractablycoupled to the base portion 84. A step platform 92 is coupled to adistal end 96 of the step extension 88. The step platform 92 isconfigured to support a user's foot or feet to allow the user to standon the step and elevate them above the ground supporting the vehicle 10.

Referring to FIG. 10, the base portion 84 defines a substantially squarecross-section aperture 102 corresponding to a square cross section 104(FIG. 12) of the step extension 88. Referring back to FIG. 10, aclamping-bolt 106 is coupled to the base portion 84 via a rivet nut,“nutsert”, or weld-nut. The clamping-bolt 106 selectively engages heightadjustment apertures 112 defined in the step extension 88. Each of theplurality of apertures 112 corresponds to a position of heightadjustment of the step platform 92 between the fully extended positionof FIGS. 8 and 10, and the fully retracted position of FIGS. 9 and 11.In the illustrated embodiment, the step extension 88 defines six heightadjustment apertures 112, corresponding to six discrete positions withapproximately 6 inches of vertical height adjustment between the fullyextended position of FIGS. 8 and 10 and the fully retracted position ofFIGS. 9 and 11. In other embodiments, more or fewer adjustment aperturesmay be provided, and greater or less height adjustment travel.

In other embodiments, the clamping-bolt 106 may be replaced by otherremovable pin arrangements, or other positioning mechanisms.

Referring to FIG. 12, the base portion 84 defines four mountingapertures 116 for mounting the base portion to the rear bumper assembly72. In other embodiments, the base portion may be mounted directly tothe frame of a vehicle, rather than to the bumper. The step platform 92defines a plurality of mounting holes 120 for optionally attached treadmaterial, such as rubber, or an abrasive material, for reducing the riskof slipping from the step platform 92.

The bumper step assembly 80 is intended to aid in accessing the truckbed, especially in cases of taller and lifted trucks. In addition toproviding access, it can be used in other instances, where an added stepis needed. The step platform 92 is removable by either removing it bythe base portion or removing the sliding step extension 88 and clampingbolt 106.

Referring to FIG. 13, another aspect of the present disclosure isillustrated. A portion of a vehicle 124, more specifically a sportutility vehicle (SUV) 124, and even more specifically a JEEP WRANGLER,is shown. A multi-function upper fender assembly 128, according to thepresent disclosure, is attached to the SUV 124 between a windshield 132,a hood 136, and the driver's side fender 140 of the SUV 126. A similarmulti-function upper fender assembly may be provided between thewindshield 132, hood, and passenger side fender (not shown).

The multifunction upper fender assembly 128 includes an upper fenderbody 144. A substantially horizontal, flat mounting surface 148 iscoupled to the upper fender body 144. A plurality of mounting apertures152, for the attachment of various accessories by a user, are defined inthe flat mounting surface 148. Such accessories may include a spotlight,speakers, or other user-selected accessories.

A removable cover member 156 is coupled between the upper fender body144 and the mounting surface 148 by a plurality of fasteners 160.Referring to FIG. 14, with the cover member 156 removed, access isprovided to an opening 164 beneath the mounting surface 148 throughwhich wires may be routed.

Referring to FIG. 15, an accessory power port 168 (e.g. a 12Vreceptacle) and data communication ports 172 (e.g., a USB receptacle)may be mounted and wired to the cover member 156, thereby providingaccess to power and a datalink to accessories mounted on the mountingsurface or elsewhere on the vehicle.

Referring to FIG. 16, the multifunction upper fender assembly 128 isintended to replace an original equipment upper fender. Mounting tabs176 on a backside 180 of the multifunction upper fender assembly 128define mounting apertures 184. The mounting tabs 176 and mountingapertures 184 correspond to existing mounting points 188 defined in theframe and body of the SUV 124.

While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design,the present invention may be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bumper assembly for a vehicle having a frame,comprising: a winch cradle defining a cradle mounting aperturecorresponding to a first frame aperture of the frame; and a bumpermember configured to at least partially surround the winch cradle andextend laterally from the winch cradle across a portion of the vehicle,the bumper member defining a bumper mounting aperture corresponding to asecond frame aperture; wherein the winch cradle is configured to coupleto the vehicle frame independent of the bumper member and the bumpermember is configured to couple to the vehicle frame independent of thewinch cradle.
 2. The bumper assembly of claim 1, further comprising afacia member extending across an open portion of the bumper member tosubstantially enclose the winch cradle.
 3. The bumper assembly of claim2, wherein the facia member is directly coupled to the bumper member. 4.The bumper assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a first facia memberconfigured to extend across an open portion of the bumper member tosubstantially enclose the winch cradle; and a second facia memberextending configured to extend across the open portion of the bumpermember in the absence of the winch cradle.
 5. The bumper assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the second facia member
 6. The bumper assembly of claim1, wherein the bumper member is configured to receive a D-ring membercoupled to the vehicle frame.
 7. The bumper assembly of claim 1, whereinthe bumper member is a front bumper member configured to be coupled to afront portion of a vehicle.
 8. A vehicle step assembly for use with arear bumper of a vehicle, comprising: a base portion configured to befixedly coupled to the rear bumper, the base portion defining mountingapertures for fastening the base portion to the rear bumper assembly anda tubular body; a step extension member slidably received within thetubular body, the step extension member having a distal end and defininga plurality of height adjustment apertures corresponding to a pluralityof discrete positions of the step extension member relative to the baseportion; a step platform fixedly coupled to the distal end; and a boltassembly coupled to the base portion and selectively extending through aheight adjustment aperture to selectively fixedly couple the stepextension member to the base portion in each of the plurality ofdiscrete positions.
 9. The vehicle step assembly of claim 8, wherein thebolt assembly comprises a clamping bolt assembly.
 10. The vehicle stepassembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of height adjustmentapertures comprises a first aperture corresponding to a stowed positionof the step platform, a second aperture corresponding to an extendedposition of the step platform, and at least a third aperture disposedbetween the first aperture and the second aperture corresponding to anintermediate position of the step platform.
 11. The vehicle stepassembly of claim 8, wherein the tubular body defines a polygonalaperture.
 12. The vehicle step assembly of claim 11, wherein the stepextension member defines a polygonal cross-section corresponding to thepolygonal aperture.
 13. The vehicle step assembly of claim 12, whereinthe step extension defines a square cross-section.
 14. A multifunctionupper fender assembly configured to replace an original equipment upperfender on a vehicle, the multi-function upper fender assemblycomprising: an upper fender body configured to be coupled adjacent ahood and windshield of the vehicle, a back surface of the upper fenderbody defining at least one mounting aperture for coupling the upperfender body to the vehicle; a mounting surface coupled to the upperfender body, the mounting surface defining a mounting point for at leastone vehicle accessory; and a detachable cover member disposed betweenthe mounting surface and the upper fender body.
 15. The multifunctionupper fender assembly of claim 14, wherein the mounting surface issubstantially planar and substantially horizontal when installed on avehicle.
 16. The multifunction upper fender assembly of claim 14,wherein the upper fender body and mounting surface define an openingthat is selectively accessible via the detachable cover member.
 17. Themultifunction upper fender assembly of claim 16, wherein the openingprovides access to an electrical system of the vehicle.
 18. Themultifunction upper fender assembly of claim 14, wherein the covermember includes an electric power port.
 19. The multifunction upperfender assembly of claim 14, wherein the cover member includes acommunication port.
 20. The multifunction upper fender assembly of claim19, wherein the communication port is a USB port.